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City Council — May 19, 2026

City Council — May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

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BodyCity Council
MeetingRegular Meeting
Date📅 May 19, 2026

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Meeting Summary

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Present: Newman, 5-Gutierrez, Engler, Taylor · Absent: 4-Adam

This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details — verify against the official recording and the transcript.

At a glance

Trails Education Days Writing Contest

  • The 35th anniversary of the program was celebrated, noting its service to over 45,000 students.
  • Grand prize winners for the 2026 annual writing contest were announced along with their teachers.
  • No formal motion or vote was taken on this presentation item.

Edison Scholars Award

  • Angela Liu received a $50,000 scholarship award from Southern California Edison.
  • The recipient stated her intention to study physics and engineering at Stanford University.
  • No formal motion or vote was taken on this presentation item.

Municipal Election Resolutions

  • Staff presented resolutions to call the November 2026 election and consolidate it with the statewide gubernatorial election.
  • The Council adopted guidelines for candidate statements and deposit fees based on registered voter counts.
  • Approval was granted for an optional televised candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
  • The City Attorney clarified that political signs are prohibited on public property but permitted on private property.

League of California Cities Leaders Summit Report

  • Council Member Newman reported on meetings with state legislators regarding solar tax bills and housing regulations.
  • Discussions included fire insurance complaints, water infrastructure hardening, and the Thrive Grove Navigation Center.
  • The Council approved the report items based on staff recommendations.

Next Meeting Agenda

  • The upcoming June 9th meeting will feature public hearings on lighting, landscape, and urban water management.
  • Additional agenda items include a report on telephonic service disruption and annual commission reports.

Closed Session

  • No closed session report was included in the provided meeting summary.

Full summary

Special Presentations

  • Trails Education Days Writing Contest: Dorothy Sullivan, Vice Chair of COSCA, presented on the 35th anniversary of the Trails Education Days program, which has served over 45,000 students. The presentation highlighted the program's structure, including nature hikes and workshops, and announced the 2026 grand prize winners of the annual writing contest. The winners were Tomjid Ahmed, Isla Fox Hudak, Chloe Imel, Chelsea Feng, and Avery McCoy, along with their respective teachers. No formal motion or vote was taken on this item.
  • Edison Scholars Award: Ian Anderson, Government Relations Manager for Southern California Edison, presented the Edison Scholars award to Angela Liu, a senior at Westlake High School. The award includes a $50,000 scholarship. Ms. Liu accepted the award and stated her intention to study physics and engineering at Stanford University. No formal motion or vote was taken on this item.

Public Comments

  • Rancho Fuel Reduction Project: Andy Van Skyver presented on a proposed fuel reduction project on MRCA-owned land near Rolling Oaks and Thousand Oaks. The project aims to improve wildfire resilience in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) by widening roads and trails and removing light, flashy fuels using manual crews. Council Member Engler asked clarifying questions regarding the project's location relative to residential zones, the preservation of native vegetation, the use of goats versus manual removal, and whether the project simulates a controlled burn. Mr. Van Skyver confirmed the project is on MRCA property, involves selective vegetation removal rather than burning, and is distinct from residential fuel reduction requirements.
  • Foxmoor Parking Safety: Cynthia Geiselman, representing the Foxmoor HOA, addressed hazardous parking conditions on Little Potrero and surrounding streets, citing double-parking and blind spots. She requested the painting of red curbs, the installation of additional signage, and increased enforcement of parking violations, particularly regarding parents picking up children from Westlake Elementary and baseball games.
  • Downtown Project Concerns: Holly Krzyzewski read a letter from former Mayor Mad Schaefer expressing concern that the proposed downtown project renderings resemble Ventura Boulevard rather than the Conejo Valley. The letter urged the Council to revise plans, lower building heights, and rethink the design to preserve the community's character. Ms. Krzyzewski also commended Commissioner Farris for listening to citizen concerns during a previous meeting.
  • POW/MIA Memorial Maintenance: William Maple spoke regarding the maintenance of the POW/MIA memorial sculpture in the Civic Arts Plaza, created from the wood of the "Freedom Tree." He reported that the sculpture had been vandalized with missing branches and a torn flag. He requested that the City repair the sculpture and assign someone to maintain it, noting the recent return of the dog tags of the soldier honored by the memorial.
  • ICE and Religious Symbols: Heather Hamilton commented on previous discussions regarding "In God We Trust" signage, referencing the number of ICE detentions in Ventura County. She suggested placing religious text and "In God We Trust" on ICE vehicles and discussed the intersection of faith and civic life.
  • Pride Flag: Elaine Ibarra, representing Diversity Collective Ventura County, requested that the City raise the Pride flag to demonstrate support for the entire constituency.
  • Historical Preservation: Rain Richard Davis questioned whether the downtown project adequately addressed historical protections, specifically regarding the Chumash encampment (IPUC) and the Jungle Land site. He asked if the public could view the results of historical reviews and if prior history would be acknowledged in the project.
  • SB 1138 and Energy Regulation: Michael read portions of SB 1138, a bill regarding Public Utilities Commission authority over resource adequacy and renewable energy compliance. He characterized the bill as over-regulation that would punish non-compliance with criminal charges and hinder competition, urging the Council not to support it.
  • Absent Speaker: Spencer Ritchie was scheduled to speak via Zoom but did not appear.

Staff Responses to Public Comments

  • Foxmoor Parking: The City Manager confirmed that the Chief of Police and Public Works leadership have spoken with residents and will address enforcement concerns.
  • POW/MIA Memorial: The City Manager stated that the Cultural Affairs Director would contact Mr. Maple regarding the vandalized sculpture and noted that work on the flag component was already underway.

Consent Calendar

  • Discussion: The Consent Calendar was presented. Council Member Engler moved to approve all items on the Consent Calendar.
  • Vote: The motion passed 5-0.

Department Report: Municipal Election

  • Discussion: Deputy City Clerk Sandra Delgado presented a report on the upcoming November 3, 2026, municipal election for Council Districts 1, 2, and 3. The report outlined three resolutions: calling the election, requesting consolidation with the statewide gubernatorial election, and adopting candidate statement guidelines and deposit fees. The report also noted the optional approval for a League of Women Voters televised candidate forum. Council Member Newman asked about the discrepancy in candidate statement fees between districts; staff explained the fees are based on the number of registered voters in each district. The City Attorney clarified that political signs are permitted on private property year-round due to First Amendment protections but are prohibited on public property and will be removed if placed there.
  • Motion: Council Member Gutierrez moved to adopt recommendations one through six regarding the election resolutions, expenditures, and the candidate forum.
  • Vote: The motion passed 5-0.

Council Member Report: League of California Cities Leaders Summit

  • Discussion: Council Member Newman reported on a recent trip to Sacramento for the League of California Cities Leaders Summit. He detailed meetings with state legislators and agencies regarding solar tax bills, missing middle housing, fire insurance complaints, and revisions to "Zone Zero" fire regulations. He also discussed meetings concerning water infrastructure hardening, the Thrive Grove Navigation Center, and a consumer protection bill (AB 1349) regarding ticket scalping. The report concluded with observations from the summit regarding state budget uncertainty and a gubernatorial debate.
  • Motion: Council Member Newman moved to approve items 15A based on recommendations 1 and 2.
  • Vote: The motion passed 5-0.

City Manager Announcements

  • Discussion: The City Manager announced the agenda for the next meeting on June 9th, which includes public hearings on lighting and landscape, an urban water management plan, and Assembly Bill 2561 vacant position status. Additional items include a department report on telephonic/internet service disruption (SB 707) and annual reports from the Council on Aging and Youth Commission.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.